TWO AMAZING CASES

Evening Star, Issue 23687, 21 September 1940, Page 4

TWO AMAZING CASES

ASSISTANCE BY RADIO VALUE OF AMATEUR TRANSMITTERS For the duration of the war, Canadian amateur radio broadcasts aro barred. In the past these amateurs have played a big part in the saving of human life, for quite often a youngster with a transmitting and receiving sot made out of odd pieces of junk has found himself the centre of a big drama.

Two years ago, in Ottawa, Johnny Wilson, 18-year-old radio fan. kept in wireless touch with Bonny Hilsdon, of Montreal, and during the course of their conversation one evening Johnny suddenly shouted: “Help, I’m being murdered ”

Hilsdon quickly phoned the local poflieo, told his story, giving the name and address of his pal in Ottawa. The police smartly linked up with the officers of the law in that city, who went round to Johnny’s house and discovered that two men had knocked out the youngster and were robbing the house.

Another case concerns the keeper of a lonely lighthouse off the coast of New Zealand who used to keep in touch with a trapper in Alaska by means of his transmitting set. Although thousands of miles separated them, the two became close friends over the radio.

One evening, during the course of their talk, the trapper in Alaska became ill; the lighthouse keeper noticed his voice was becoming fainter, so he asked what was the matter. The only answer he got was “ Help! ” in a very faint voice.

The man in the lighthouse immediately broadcast an SOS, asking anyone living near the trapper’s hut to go to his assistance.

Jack Travers, listening-in with his home-made set, picked up the SOS flashed from the lighthouse. Donning his_ thick winter coat, he trudged quickly through the snow ta the trapper’s cabin, where, after breaking down the door, he found him unconscious— by the fumes from the oil stove which warmed the cabin.

Quickly the youngster .took the trapper out into the cold night air, and when he recovered he was amazed to hear how his new-found friend had heard about his plight.